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The Book Life | Top Five Bookish Movies Every Book Lover Needs To Watch

In this week’s Book Life post, I have decided to compile a list of movies I absolutely adored beyond measure. They all focus on a bookish theme in some form. As much as I love to read, there always time to enjoy a good movie and unwind.

I would like everyone to pay special attention to movie #1 on our list titled The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. I have placed this one on the very top of the list for a reason. It is a movie I watched this week and is easily my current favorite movie. It has everything that I love. The movie is filled with drama, love, books, writing, history, and everything my heart desires. It has all the feels! The main character, whose name is Juliet is everything I admire and strive to be. She is serious goals! Thanks for reading and please leave any bookish movies you know of in the comments below! Now without further adieu, here is the list of bookish movies I love:

#1 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

London, 1946. Juliet (Lily James), a charismatic and free-spirited writer receives a letter from a member of a mysterious literary club started in Nazi-occupied Guernsey. Her curiosity piqued, Juliet decides to visit the island. There she meets the delightfully eccentric members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, including Dawsey (Michiel Huisman), the rugged and intriguing farmer who wrote her the letter. As the secrets from their wartime past unfold, Juliet’s growing attachment to the island, the book club and her affection for Dawsey will change the course of her life forever.

#2 The Book Thief

Based on the beloved international bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the story of an extraordinary, spirited young girl sent to live with a foster family in WWII Germany. Intrigued by the only book she brought with her, she begins collecting books as she finds them. With the help of her new parents and a secret guest under the stairs, she learns to read and creates a magical world that inspires them all.

Based on the beloved international bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the story of an extraordinary, spirited young girl sent to live with a foster family in WWII Germany. Intrigued by the only book she brought with her, she begins collecting books as she finds them. With the help of her new parents and a secret guest under the stairs, she learns to read and creates a magical world that inspires them all.

Rating:PG-13 (for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material)

#3 The Reader

When he falls ill on his way home from school, 15 year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. The two begin an unexpected and passionate affair only for Hanna to suddenly and inexplicably disappear. Eight years later, Michael, now a young law student observing Nazi war trials, meets his former lover again, under very different circumstances. Hanna is on trial for a hideous crime, and as she refuses to defend herself, Michael gradually realizes his boyhood love may be guarding a secret she considers to be more shameful than murder.

#4 The Dead Poet’s Society

Keating (Robin Williams) introduces his students to poetry, and his free-thinking attitude and the liberating philosophies of the authors he introduces to his class have a profound effect on his students, especially Todd (Ethan Hawke), who would like to be a writer; Neil ( Robert Sean Leonard), who dreams of being an actor, despite the objections of his father; Knox (Josh Charles), a hopeless romantic; Steven (Allelon Ruggiero), an intellectual who learns to use his heart as well as his head; Charlie (Gale Hansen), who begins to lose his blasé attitude; unconventional Gerard (James Waterston); and practical Richard (Dylan Kussman). Dead Poets Society was nominated for four Academy Awards.

#5 Beauty & The Beast ( 2017 )

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Oscar (R) winner Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; Josh Gad as Lefou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Golden Globe (R) nominee Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, the candelabra; Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Oscar nominee Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and two-time Academy Award (R) winner Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts. Directed by Oscar (R) winner Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast” is produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, with eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken.

Great list Samantha! I hadn’t heard of the first one but it looks intriguing. Absolutely loved the sweet, sad Book Thief and one of my husband’s favorite Dead Poets Society.

I love when books stay with the author’s original concept and occasionally make the movie even better, case in point “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” But what do you think when the director messes up a perfectly great book like “My Sister’s Keeper” or totally change the ending like “The Horse Whisperer?” Love your posts Samantha!

I adored the film adaptation of The Book Thief, and really want to watch The Guernsey Literary… adaptation too. I love the film Kill Your Darlings, which is an adaptation of And The Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, and looks at the inception of the Beat generation. Also, it had Dan Radcliffe it it (in case you need to be sold any more)

I just finished reading your #1 choice but, a book I think you would enjoy is Same Kind a Different as me and the boom was fantastic but it’s a movie also. I got it at Redbird. I loved the book. Thanks for sharing all you do you love your blog! And I love your short stories!

Beauty and the Beast (the live action version) is one of my all time favorite films. I’m a huge Disney fan so I had high expectations going in, especially because I adore the cartoon but I was just utterly blown away! I think it’s the best Disney live action re-make so far. Evermore… There are just no words. I actually saw it six times at the cinemas! Plus, Dan Steven’s is pretty easy on the eyes… 😉

I missed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society at the cinemas 😦 but it’s just been released on DVD in Australia and I can’t wait to finally watch it!

I am love with the new rendition of Beauty and The beast too! Pure gold! They made it so well and just awww. Oh yay you can get Guernsey on the dvd now! They also have it airing on Netflix currently. 🙂 it waa so good! You wont be dissapointed ❤

This is a lovely list, I absolutely adored The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society film as well! I also loved Beauty and the Beast as it made me so nostalgic for my childhood, Belle was always my favourite Disney princess because she liked books like me 😊 I have watched all of these except The Reader so will definitely check it out – thank you for the ideas!

Ooh, that’s tricky – I would have to say The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, as like you say it really does have everything. Books, quirky characters, an admirable heroine and a cute romance – what more could you want!?!

Great List. ‘The Book Thief’ is probably my favourite. It was nice to see someone fall in love with books the way she did. We take books for granted, sometimes, but she never did. She was always looking for more, even if it meant taking a book from a Nazi bonfire.

I love the movies. I go to the thearter twice a week, and I have seen The Dead Poet Society and the Beauty and The Beast, but the others this is the first time I heard about them. Do you know where can I get a copy or they still showing in the movie theater.

Great list! I’ve not seen the films but I’ve read both ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ and ‘The Book Thief’. Both are fantastic!
I’d have to include ‘Midnight in Paris’. I know the director, Woody Allen, is out of favour and rightly so, but it doesn’t take away from the film. All those fabulous writers and artists!

Yes, I’ve seen it 😊 I liked it too, but not as much as the animated version just because of the soundtrack. The movie was great but nothing will beat Dion’s and Bryson’s rendition of the theme song for me.

They are all such good movies, did you have a particular favorite? I really really recommend the movie but haven’t read the book for The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. I will add it to my list very soon!